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LETTER VI.

To NOCTUA AURITA, in the Defert.

I HAVE not words to exprefs my thankfulness for the favours you are heaping upon me. My debt is increafing, and I have nothing to pay. But I do verily believe that my dear Redeemer will give you a full reward. Bleffed be his name, he does give me a heart to pray for it; " and he that fearcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the fpirit, because the Spirit itself maketh interceffion for us, according to the will of God." Your letter came as a broad feal to all that I had experienced from the Monday till Thursday evening in the week following, when I received yours. During thofe days my union to Chrift was made as clear to me as ever I faw the

fun at noon-day.

What I felt in

What I felt in my foul of the effects of dying love no tongue nor pen can ever exprefs. The godly forrow it produced in my heart melted it. The Lord did give me to look on him whom I had pierced, and mourn; and this diffolved my ftony heart, and broke it in a thousand pieces. The three verfes of Mr. Hart's hymn on the Prodigal quite overcame me, viz.

The

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What treatment fince he came?

Love tenderly exprest.

What robe is brought to hide his fhame?
The best, the very best.

Rich food the fervants bring,

Sweet mufic charms his ears:
See what a beauteous coftly ring
The beggar's finger wears.

My joy and godly forrow kept increafing; and on Tuesday following it rofe fo high, that I was incapable of attending to the domeftic concerns of my family. I could only go about the houfe faying, "Lord, I cannot live fo; I cannot, cannot. Do take me. Thou knoweft I cannot bear up under fuch manifeftations of dying love." Surely I was drunk with the new wine of the kingdom. The Lord did make me fo to drink as to forget my poverty, and to remember my misery no more. Surely the Lord is preparing me for something; but what I know not. However, I am perfuaded I fhall not be led in this way long; but am quite in the dark what will be my path next. I think he is either preparing me for glory, or I fhall be exercised with fome fiery trial. However, what I experienced this last month I believe no temptation that I fhall be exercifed with will ever erafe

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it from my mind. I know now that Chrift is mine, and that nothing fhall ever separate me from him. I am faying with the spouse, " A bundle of myrrh is my Beloved unto me; he fhall lie all night between my breafts." I am truly glad to hear, by a friend, that you are better, and able to follow the plough. May the Lord crown your labours with fuccefs, that the fallow ground of finners' hearts may be prepared for the reception of the precious feed, that the incarnate Word may be formed in many hearts! I fhall be happy to fee you. I hope it will not be long before I have that pleasure. I faw the King's herald last night: he was well. I believe he rejoices to fee my happinefs. May the Lord bless and prosper him! The power that came down upon us at Gaffon's Bower feems ftill to remain, both with him and us. Surely that was a time never to be forgotten. Our dear fifter Moorhen begs me to present her kind love to you, and the thanks you for your kind letter; but fays you give her too much encouragement, and she is afraid fhe fhall never be able to write to you again; but defires me not to forget to tell you that she loves you dearly for the work of God upon you. I think we may say of her, as Chrift faid of Nathanael when he faw him coming to him, "Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" My very foul cleaves to her. Precious she is to me, and dear to the Lord, I have no doubt. I fhall be happy to hear from you as foon

foon as convenient.

I hope the Shunamite's continually coming will not weary you. Let me continue to have an intereft in your prayers. I believe I never ftood in more need of them; for I think that Satan is enraged at me, and perhaps is laying fome fnare for my feet. Pray that the Lord would give me wisdom, that I may not be ignorant of his devices. My paper tells me to leave Believe me ever to remain

off.

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THY favoury, unctuous, and гарturous epiftle is fafely arrived. Nothing now (fince the operations of her late banquet on dying love, and her godly forrow, and her kind reception) seems to be wanting to complete the glo

rious

No

rious work of converfion, regeneration, and efpoufing to Chrift. Her eyes have seen that Juft One; and she has wept the tears of heavenly love over him in his dolorous sufferings, which hath been attended with a most joyful and affured fenfe of pacification; and the bleffed effects were selfloathing, and fuch felf-abhorrence as is not to be defcribed. This is a fecret which is peculiar to the elect of God, when the eternal union between Christ and the efpoufed foul takes place; and is what no hypocrite ever attained, and what no minifter of the letter could ever defcribe. thing now feems to be lacking in my dear fister's faith; fhe comes behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of the Son of God. She comprehends, with all faints that have gone before, both the height and depth of boundless love, which paffeth knowledge. The Lord hath given her his fure tokens, and the things that accompany falvation; fo that in all things fhe hath proved herself clear in this great matter. Henceforth there can be no enchantment against Philomela; no divination against this daughter of Abraham. I certainly fhall, according to my firft prediction, see her in the kingdom of God above. This foul-diffolving union, this fellowship with Chrift in his fufferings, and being made conformable unto his death in it, is the most noble, the most foul-enriching and foul-eftablishing work of the holy Spirit of promife; and the fenfations of the foul under it

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produces

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